Decorative pole assembly



pril 8, 1969 R, W, STOMER ET AL 3,437,059

DECORATIVE POLE ASSEMBLY sheet of 4 Filed May 17. 1966 v vs.

April 8, 1959 R. w. sToNlER ET AL 3,437,059

DECORATIVE POLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 17, 1966 lill f a@ 4 ld wigs.

April 8, 1969 R. w. STONIER ET AL 3,437,059

DECORATIVE POLE ASSEMBLY .filed may 17, 1966 sheet 5 of 4 Apri1s,19s9 R. W. STOMER Em. 3,437,059

DEORATIVE P OLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 17, 196e sheet im of 4 nited States Fatent 3,437,059 DECORATIVE POLE ASSEMBLY Russell W. Stonier, Winnetka, and Daniel H. James, Mel

rose Park, Ill.; said Stonier assignor to Russ Stonier Designs, Inc. Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 17, 1966, Ser. No. 555,211 Int. Cl. A47b 13/04; F16b 7/00; F16m 13/00 U.S. Cl. S-151 9 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A decorative pole assembly which may be readily installed between, and removed from, the lloor and ceiling of a room. The pole assembly includes a plurality of ornamental pole segments and a plurality of connectors. The ends of the pole segments are provided with axially aligned, internally threaded recesses which threadably receive the connectors to form a multi-jointed pole. At least one of the connectors is a coil spring which provides a joint which may be exed to facilitate the installation or removal of the pole.

Background of the invention This invention relates to a decorative pole assembly which has a variety of uses, but which is particularly adapted for installation between two facing surfaces such as the floor and ceiling of a room. Typically, a series of the pole assemblies would be installed as an ornamental room divider. The pole assemblies may also be used as decorative accessories in archways, window openings, as dividers between booths in restaurants, etc. The pole assemblies may also be used in more utilitarian applications, such as providing the support posts for bookshelves, including free standing shelf units, pole-type lamps, table supports, and the like.

Decorative poles or posts formed from wood turnings have long been used as room dividers and in related applications. Where the pole is formed from a one-piece turning, it is expensive and dicult to install. Even if segmental turnings are used to form the post assembly, the practice has been to connect the turnings by dowel pins, thereby forming a rigid post which presents the same installation problem as the one-piece post. Moreover, after the rigid post assemblies are installed, they are diliicult to remove, as may be desired where the layout or decor of the room is being changed. It would be desirable to provide a decorative pole assembly which may be readily installed without requiring special tools or skills, and which can be removed as required. For example, the removal of the poles may be desirable where the room is being painted.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a decorative pole assembly which substantially overcomes the limitations and disadvantages described above. More specifically, it is an object to provide a decorative pole assembly which may be readily and conveniently installed between two facing surfaces such as the loor and ceiling of a room, and which may be readily removed while being held in place with suflicient rigidity during normal use. Further objects and advantages will be indicated in the following detailed specilication.

This invention is shown in illustrative embodiments in the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE l is an elevational view of a room divider formed from the pole assemblies of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of one of the joints of the pole assembly of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the same joint 'ice assembly, the joint being shown in separated or exed condition;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary enlarged detail sectional view of one turn of the spring connector employed in the joint illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a stud which may be installed in the ceiling of a room for positioning and holding the upper segment of the pole assembly;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational sectional view showing the ceiling stud of FIG. 4 in its assembled relation with the upper segment of the pole assembly;

FIG. 6 is an elevational View showing the pole assembly of the preceding Figures being installed between the floor and ceiling of a room;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a shelf or connector member which may be employed with the pole assemblies of this invention;

FIG. 8 is an elevational v-iew of a series of pole assemblies connected by laterally-extending members like the member of FIG. 7, thereby providing shelves which may be used as book shelves or for other purposes;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the joints of the assembly of FIG. 8 showing the relation of the shelf member to the joint;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a pole-type lamp and table combination, utilizing the pole assembly of the present invention;

FIG. ll is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of another type of pole lamp which may be constructed from theV pole assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. l2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of exible connector for connecting the joints of the pole assemblies.

Looking lirst at FIGURE l, there is shown a Series of decorative pole assemblies P installed between the iloor F and ceiling C of a room, thereby providing an ornamental room divider. The pole assemblies P are formed from a plurality of ornamental pole segments 10 which are arranged in end-to-end alignment to form a multijointed pole. Preferably, the segments 10 are wood turnings. In the illustration given, the turnings 10 are in the form of spools having recessed central portions and enlarged ends for providing a decorative elfect. It will be understood, however, that the exterior of the turnings may be provided with a wide variety of ornamental grooves, rings, and other surfaces to vary the decorative appearance of the poles. In certain embodiments, the pole segments may have non-circular cross sections, such as square, octagonal, etc., and may be formed of other materials than wood, such as plastics or metals. It will also be understood that the exterior surfaces of the pole segments may be finished in any manner, such as staining, varnishing, or painting.

The pole assemblies P are provided with a plurality of joints I which are formed between the abutting ends of the segments 10. The preferred construction of the joints I is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, which will now be explained.

The adjacent joint-providing ends of the segments 10 include axially aligned cylindrical recesses 11 having internal screw threads 12. A cylindrical connector 13 has its opposite end portions received within the adjacent pairs of the recesses 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. At least the connector outer end portion should provide external screw threads 14 adjustably engaging the corresponding threads 12 of the recess walls.

In accordance with the present invention, the connectors 13 are provided with a exible resilient central portion 13a unconnected to the walls of the recesses 11. Preferably, the inner end portions 11a of the recesses 11 are enlarged and the walls provided by the inner end portions are spaced from the connector central portion 13a. For example, a hemi-spherical type of enlargement may be provided as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the joint J may be flexed by bending and stretching the connector central portion 13a. The advantage of this construction will subsequently be explained in greater detail.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the connector 13 is a metal coil spr-ing. The outer portions of the springs 13b provide turns which are spaced and sized to engage the threads 12 provided by the walls of recesses 11. Preferably, the central portions 13a of the coil springs provide turns more closely spaced than the outer portions 13b. In the illustration given, the turns of spring central portion 13a are substantially contiguous or touching when the spring is in its normal unstretched or unexed condition. This arrangement is shown most clearly in FIG. 2. The central portion 13a with the closely spaced turns lies within the enlarged inner ends 11a of the recesses. When the turns of spr-ing central portion 13a are more closely spaced than the turns of the outer portions 13b, the outer ends of the central portion 13a will act as stops since the closely spaced central portion of the spring will resist entry into the threaded portions of the recesses 11. Preferably, therefore, spring central portion 13a has a length substantially equal to or slightly less than the axial distance across the enlarged, nonthreaded central recess portions 11a. When the spring is fully inserted as shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent ends of the wood turnings will abut each other, and the outer ends of the spring central portion 13a will just begin to engage the threads of the recesses 11. Another advantage of having more closely spaced turns in the spring central portion 13a is that greater rigidity or stiffness can be provided in the assembled pole without interfering with the desired ilexibility for installation, the exing serving to open the turns of the central portion, as shown yin FIG. 3.

Preferably, the axial length of the threaded portions of the recesses 11 are at least as great as the length of the spring sections having the expanded turns for being received in the threads of the recesses. In the illustration given, the spring sections 13b are shown extending substantially to the bottom of the threaded recess portions. The recesses also provide unthreaded outer portions 13C, which are not essential for the operation of the assembly but may be desirable for ease of fabrication. For example, an axial bore may be formed in the ends of the wood turnings 10, the bore having the diameter of the outer end portions 13C. The bore may then be enlarged at the inner end portions by a countersinking procedure to provide the enlargements 11a. As a iinal step, the bore may be tapped to provide the threads 12.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the turns of the coil springs 13 may have a rectangular cross section, while having rounded external side portions for engaging the threads of the recesses or bores 11. Springs having turns with circular or round cross sections can also be used, but the rectangular cross section as shown in FIG. 3A has the advantage of providing a central portion 13a which is,

stiffer than would be obtained with a spring having turns of Icircular cross section.

One suitable means for positioning and holding-the uppermost pole segment 10 in an established relation to a ceiling is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. A stud 15 may be provided having an enlarged head 16 and a screw shank 17. The enlarged head 16 may be formed of rubber or other resilient material, and may be sized to be snugly received within the enlarged inner end portion 11a of the recess 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the threaded shank 17 of the stud 1S can be inserted in the ceiling C, and the enlarged end 11 of the upper segment 10 inserted over the head 16, thereby stabilizing and positioning the upper end of the pole assembly, as shown more clearly in FIG. 6.

To provide for the adjustment of the lloor-to-ceiling length of the pole assembly, the lower end of the pole assemblies P may be provided with base blocks 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Preferably, the base blocks 18 are formed of wood so that they may be readily cut to adjust the overall length of the assembly.

In the installation of the pole assembly P, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the segments 10 may be connected with the llexible connectors 13, as previously described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. It will be understood that the upper end of the base block 18 will also be provided with a recess similar to the recess 13 in the adjacent end of the lower segment 10, thereby permitting the base block 18 to be connected to the lower segment 10 in the same manner. Either before or after assembly of the base block 18 to the lower segment 10, the lower end of the base block will be cut to provide an overall length of the pole assembly Y corresponding to the oor-toceiling height Y at the point of installation. With this step completed, the upper end of the upper segment 10 may be inserted over the stud 15, and the segments of the pole assembly flexed to a condition like the one shown in FIG. 6 where base block 18 is slightly above the floor F. It is then a simple matter to move the base block inwardly along the line Z to its inal position where the entire pole assembly P is verical and extends from tloor to ceiling. If desired, some suitable fastener may be used for attaching the bottom of the base block 18 to the lloor F, although this is not essential. It will be appreciated that the pole assembly P can be readily removed whenever desired by the reverse of the procedure just described. By flexing the joints I, the vertical length of the assembly can be shortened, thereby releasing the base block 18 from the oor F and the upper segment 10 from the ceiling C.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 illustrate a modified pole assembly P having modified joints J which receive members 19 having a lateral extent. In the illustration given, the `members 19 serve as shelves or connectors extending horizontally between the joints I of a plurality of the pole assemblies P. The shelf members 19, which conveniently may be :formed of wood, plywood, hardboard, etc., are provided with spaced openings 20 of sufcient size to permit the spring connectors 13 to extend therethrough, as shown in FIG. 9. By tightening the outer turns of spring 13 into the threaded portions of the recesses 11', the portions of shelf 19 adjacent each of the openings 20 may be clamped between the adjacent inner end portions of the segments 10. In the assembled structure, as shown in FIG. 8, the shelves 19 may be used for storing books or other objects. It will be understood that the entire assembly of FIG. 8 may be installed in the same manner as the pole assembly P of FIG. 6.

In FIG. l0, there is shown a pole assembly P which is designed to provide a pole-type lamp. The pole segments 100, 101, 102, 103 and the base block 104 may be connected by spring connectors 105 having a construction similar to the spring connectors 13 previously described. A bore may be provided through the pole assembly for receiving a light cord 106 which connects to light fixtures 107. A support 108 for a lampshaded 109 may be received between the adjacent ends of segment 100, as shown in FIG. 10. A laterally-extending table 110 may be provided with a central opening 111 through which extends the spring 105 between the adjacent ends of segments 102 and 103. It will be understood that the unit may be installed as previously described with respect to the pole assembly P between the ceiling C and the oor F.

In FIG. l1, another lamp assembly is illustrated. The pole segments 200 and 201 are provided with central bores 202 and 203. The adjacent end portions of the bores include threaded portions 204 and 205 and enlarged portions 206 and 207. A spring connector 208 unites the adjacent ends of the segments 200 and 201 in the manner previously described. A light cord 209 extends through bores 202 and 203 and through the spring connector 204 to connect with a laterally-extending light fixture 210 which is mounted on the side of the segment 200. It will be understood that other pole segments will be provided for a oor-to-ceiling installation similar to the one described with reference to FIG. 10.

In FIG. 12, there is shown a modified connector 300 which may be substituted for the spring connectors 13. Connector 300 is molded from a solid piece of exible resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber. External threads 301 are formed in the outer surface of the connector, and are dimensioned to be received within the threaded portions of the recesses of the segments, such as the segments of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. The connectors 300 will have an overall length Substantially the same as the spring 13, and the central portions of the connectors 300 will provide for the flexing of the joints J between the adjacent ends of the segments 10.

While in the foregoing specication this inevntion has been described in relation to certain specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to other embodiments, and that many of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

We claim:

1. A decorative pole assembly adapted for installation between two facing surfaces such as the floor and ceiling of a room, comprising:

(a) a plurality of ornamental pole segments arranged in end-to-end alignment to form a multi-jointed pole, the adjacent joint-providing ends of said segments including axially aligned cylindrical recesses with walls having internal screw threads; and

(b) cylindrical connectors having opposite outer end portions received within adjacent pairs of said recesses,

said connector outer end portions providing external screw threads adjustably engaging the corresponding threads of said recess walls, at least one of said connectors consisting of a metal coil spring providing outer end portions having turns spaced and dimensioned for adjustably engaging the threads of said recess walls, adjacent outer end portions of the recesses engaged by said spring being enlarged and the walls provided by said spring-engaged recess outer end portions being spaced lfrom said spring central portion; whereby said spring may be flexed to facilitate the installation or removal of the assembled pole.

2. The decorative pole assembly of claim 1 wherein the central portion of said spring provides more closely spaced turns than the thread-engaging turns of its outer end portions.

3. The decorative pole assembly of claim 1 wherein the turns of said spring are of generally rectangular crosssection, but have rounded external side portions for engaging the threads of said recess walls.

4. The decorative pole assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of a member having a lateral extent is interposed between the ends of at least two of adjacent pole segments said member portion providing an opening therethrough receiving and enclosing at least part of the central portion of the connector which extends between and unite said two pole segments, said opening having a `smaller diameter than said pole segment ends so that said member is clamped between said pole segment ends when said pole segments are tightened onto the said connector.

5. The decorative pole assembly of claim 1 wherein most `of said pole `segments are wood turnings, wherein one of said segments at one end of said pole assembly is a wood base block which can be cut to adjust the over- ,all length of said assembly, and wherein the other end one of said segments has a recess in the outer end thereof for receiving a positioning member.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein `said member is a bookshelf.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said member is a table.

8. In a pole assembly, the combination of:

(a) a series of axially aligned, generally cylindrical wooden spools having adjacent facing ends providing internally-extending axial bores, the walls of said bores having internal screw threads extending inwardly from the mouths thereof, the adjacent mouth portions of some of `said spools being enlarged to a diameter greater than that of said bores `and the threads thereof beginning at a distance from said Ifacing ends, and

(b) cylindrical connectors hav-ing opposite end p0rtions received within the threaded portions of said bores to connect and disconnect said spools, at least one of said connectors consisting of a metal coil spring providing outer end portions having turns spaced and dimensioned for adjustably engaging the threads of said bores, each of -said spring having a flexing central portion extending through said spool mouth portion.

9. The combination of claim '8 wherein the said spring central portion provides more closely spaced turns than the thread engaging turns of its outer end port-ions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 317,157 5/1885 Lowrie 287-85 2,159,436 5/1939 Jenks 211--86 RX 3,035,708 5/1962 Freeman 211-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 704,260 2/ 1931 France.

357,004 9/ 1931 Great Britain.

628,708 10/ 1961 Canada.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

